During a press conference, The Last Of Us cast (new and returning) tease what fans can expect in season 2. Discussion moderated by Jazz Tangcay.
The Last Of Us Season 2 is finally almost here. In support of the April 13 premiere, the cast and creatives came together for a press conference. It didn’t take long before it was quite clear how well they all get along, as they were laughing and joking with one another.
The Last of Us Season 2 Press Conference Participants:
- Craig Mazin, Co-Creator/Executive Producer/Writer/Director
- Neil Druckmann, Co-Creator/Executive Producer/Writer/Director
- Pedro Pascal, Joel
- Bella Ramsey, Ellie
- Kaitlyn Dever, Abby
- Gabriel Luna, Tommy
- Isabela Merced, Dina
- Young Mazino, Jesse
- Moderated Discussion with Jazz Tangcay, Senior Artisans Editor, Variety
New and returning cast members tease what fans can expect in season two while the creators reveal why they switched things up from the game (just a little bit) this time around.
What’s It Like To Be Back?
Craig Mazin: We’ve been working very, very, very hard for like, what is it, like, two years now? Because we don’t really take a break. We just… season one ends, start writing season two. Prep. Shoot. Post. So, it’s been it’s been awesome to like to remember that people are going to watch it. So, we’re just very excited to start showing people what we’ve done because we’re extraordinarily proud. Especially what these guys, it’s… They’re amazing.
Neil Druckmann: Someone just asked me if I’m excited for the premiere tonight. I’m like, I don’t think that far ahead. Like, first we got to finish this thing, then we get to worry about that. But it feels now it’s close enough where you could start visualizing and thinking about people watching this show, engaging with it, talking about it. And like Craig was saying, not only everybody here, but just an incredible crew that just put everything on the line: incredible sets, and prosthetics, and VFX – nonstop VFX. We got a wild season in front of you.
Bella Ramsey: It’s a little bit scary. I think it was, yeah – when season one came out obviously it was like this huge thing. I think I’m just so aware of, like, season two coming out and being, like, everybody, like, looking at it and looking at me and it’s, like, quite scary, but it’s, like, exciting and I’m – it’s nice to be here – and it’s trying to see it as, like, a celebration of all the, like, hard work that we did. And I just hope that people will – I mean, people are going to like it – and because these guys did an incredible job and just, yeah, I think we can all go… We all went into it with, like, complete trust for them. And we’ve been literally, like, carried and protected the whole way so it’s pretty exciting and I hope that, yeah, people will watch it.
Pedro Pascal: It feels like this [pointing at audience]. It’s so special to be back. And also, with such a kind of expanded identity, if that makes sense. Because there are new people and there are old people. Not that you’re old, Gabriel. I think there’s something that is really exciting about basically giving everyone another season of a show that everyone loved and that everyone has worked so hard on and has put so much into.
Gabriel Luna: I feel good. It’s good to be back. It’s, I’ll echo what Pedro said, it’s just, you know, just to see Bella and Pedro and Rutina – to just to get the family back together. But also, to add these additions that have been that have strengthened the story in so many ways; in so many new and exciting ways. Brought a great love for the for the source material right into it. And this – I am old – and there’s a beautiful infusion of youth and excitement and energy that they all brought. So, we’re really excited for everyone to experience what we made.
…And What Is It Like To Join The Last Of Us In Season 2?
Kaitlyn Dever: It was like all of the feelings. It was I was nervous, I was anxious, but also very excited. I’ve been a huge fan of this game and the show for a very long time. Yeah, but the show – the reach of this, of this world – is so, so big. The world of The Last of Us is so large. And so, you can definitely, you can feel that – you know, in wardrobe fittings when you’re first, you know, in prep and then finally getting on set. It still feels very big but I, yeah, it was… I felt less nervous once I got onto set just because of this wonderful group of people and being held by Craig and Neil. It really felt like I was being cared for and taken care of in a way that I haven’t ever really experienced ever before. So, it was really a thrill as a person and an actor.
Craig Mazin: Kaitlyn did things that I’m not sure, like, you even should have done. Like, I don’t know how you did them. When we meet new performers, we’re sort of like I – we knew her, obviously, as an actor and what she could do – but when you then you meet the person and you’re like, well, what can you actually do? What are you comfortable with? And Kaitlyn just would never say no. And it was amazing. And, and when you see like how physical, like, just how physically tremendous her performance is, it’s kind of it’s insane. Very grateful, like, so far, if you look down this row, we’re going to get to [Isabela & Young] at the end too. Like, we just we haven’t… We just haven’t fucked up in casting. We just haven’t fucked up. And sooner or later…
Isabela Merced: It was really cool. I felt like the new kid at school. I think Dina and I have a lot in common in the sense that I have this random confidence for no reason. I just really appreciate that they embraced me for who I was, and I really feel like I was seen through your eyes: Craig and Neil. And that’s kind of it was just a really good environment to flourish as an actor. And I think that’s why my mom will be proud of me.
Young Mazino: I felt incredibly fortunate. I have so much gratitude to everyone here being so open. Joining a second season for something that was so well established the first time and the trust that I think Craig and Neil had in me to deliver on this character. I do remember getting more nervous when I stepped onto set and realizing the sheer scale of the town and seeing these – the huge gate that they built. That’s when I started to feel a little tripped out. But then, but then the longer I was there, I realized the energy was so, so warm and so inviting, and I feel like there was no ego on set. And I think that’s a rare thing, especially the larger set gets. And I had such a blast. It was chill.
The Last Of Us Season 2 Establishes Abby’s Firefly Ties Immediately
Jazz Tangcay, Moderator: Given that the game chooses to have players meet and play as Abby without knowing any of her backstory, I was somewhat surprised when the premiere established Abby’s ties to the fireflies into Salt Lake City so immediately. How did you land on that level of clarity as the starting point for the season?
Neil Druckmann: We got this question like four times today. There are two reasons why we change certain context or move certain things up in the story. One of which, in the game, you know, you start the game, like you said in the question, you play as Abbie, so you immediately form an empathic connection with her because you’re surviving as her. You’re running through the snow, you’re fighting infected, and we can withhold certain things and make it a mystery that will be revealed later in the story. We couldn’t do that in the show because you’re not playing as her, so we need other tools. And that context gave us that shortcut. Something similar happened in season one when, you know the game, one starts with you playing as Sarah, and we didn’t have to do a lot of heavy lifting for you to care about Sarah, because you’re playing as her, you’re experiencing the outbreak as her. In the show, we had to spend quite a bit of time to achieve something similar. So that was one reason. Another reason is, you know, where that revelation happens in the game. If we were to stick to a very similar timeline, viewers would have to wait a very, very long time to get that context. You would probably get spoiled to them between seasons, and we didn’t want that. So, it felt appropriate for those reasons to move that up and give viewers that context right off the bat.
The Last Of Us Is “Cathartic” In Many Ways
Unnamed Press Member: This is an apocalyptic view of what is going on, and then we turn on the news at 6:00, and it’s almost an apocalyptic present. How much is a show like this in escape, and how much is it a view into what we need to examine?
Pedro Pascal: I think that storytelling is cathartic in so many ways, always has been. It’s the way that the human beings have made testimony to life. Whether it was, you know, handprints on the walls inside of a cave to, you know, a television show that you can stream on Max. Starting April 13th. And so, for me, you know, growing up, I have always and it’s all of my development is based on, you know, books I’ve read, movies I’ve seen, and television that I’ve watched. And so, it’s very much going to reflect the human experience. And under such extreme circumstances, I think that there’s a very kind of, like, healthy and sometimes sick pleasure in, in that kind of catharsis, in a safe space to, to see human relationships under crisis and in pain and, and intelligently draw political allegory, societal allegory and, and based off of the world that, that we’re living in and, and very beautifully and very intelligently.
Gabriel Luna: I think he spoke so eloquently, beautifully about it. And I think there’s a huge catharsis element to it all. The first season, we made a story about a pandemic fearing that maybe there’s a fatigue, but I think the experience that everyone had just gave them an entry point to what we were doing. And I think the second game, which, as Neil wrote it in the way that Craig and Neil, I’m assuming, writing this, the second season, is, you know, it’s about, you know, conflicts and where do they start? And who started it? And trying to, and right now all over the world, we’re dealing with these conflicts that, they’re – people are stuck in the wheel of vengeance and can it be broken? Will it be broken? And that’s where we are, so catharsis is a big element to both, I think.
Describe The Last Of Us Season 2 In Just One Word…
Jazz Tangcay: I want to ask everybody in this panel to describe season two in a single word.
Young Mazino: Explosive.
Isabela Merced: Grief.
Gabriel Luna: Vengeance.
Kaitlyn Dever: Gripping.
Pedro Pascal: Snowy.
Bella Ramsey: Rainy.
Neil Druckmann: Love.
Craig Mazin: Beautiful.
Season two of THE LAST OF US debuts SUNDAY, APRIL 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. The seven-episode season will continue with one new episode weekly through May 25.
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About The Last Of Us Season 2
Five years after the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.
Returning cast includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Maria. Previously announced new cast includes Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara also guest stars.
THE LAST OF US, based on the acclaimed video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation® consoles, is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is also executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells; with writer/co-executive producer Halley Gross. Production companies: PlayStation Productions, Word Games, Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.
Season two of THE LAST OF US debuts SUNDAY, APRIL 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. The seven-episode season will continue with one new episode weekly through May 25.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.